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Thursday, September 6, 2012

The South African Wine Index (SAWi) acknowledged South African wine excellence at its gala event held at the luxurious Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Camps Bay on 22 August 2012.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards from the Hemel-en-Aarde wine route is the top 2012 achiever and announced as the 2012 SAWi Wine Cellar of the Year. Hannes Storm, Hamilton Russell winemaker, was awarded the 2012 SAWi Winemaker of the Year award and viticulturist, Johan Montgomery, received acknowledgement as the 2012 SAWi Viticulturist of the Year.

Together this dynamic duo, along with foreman Colin Jonkers and his team in the vineyards, also won the 2012 SAWi White Wine of the Year accolade with their Hamilton Russell Chardonnay.

The SAWi award system does not judge a wine or cultivar according to a single harvest result. Rather, judging is based on the combined results a SAWi-registered cellar and its wines achieved over time, at 44 different, multi-national wine competitions, thus measuring its overall quality as attained over a predetermined period.
Top 10 mentions and trophies are also taken into account during these calculations.

SAWi Platinum is the highest accolade that may be achieve by any wine. A mark of 95+, out of a possible 100, will secure this award.

This is followed by Grand Gold at 93 to 94, and Gold is received for 90 to 92. No Silver or Bronze is awarded, ensuring SAWi decorated wines really are the cream of the crop.

South Africa’s brandies were at the top of their game. Van Ryn’s 12 year old won Platinum and Van Ryn’s 20-year old took Grand Gold. KWV won Platinum for their KWV 15-year old, as did Laborie Alambic, and KWV 20-year old received Grand Gold.

Wine LegendVriesenhof winemaker and old-Springbok rugby player, Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee, was honoured as the 2012 SAWi Wine Legend of the Year. He is a founding member of the Cape Winemakers Guild and a wine consultant for several wine cellars.

His contribution to the global profile of South African wines has made Coetzee a true pioneer in the South Africa Wine industry.